President Donald Trump (R) confirmed this week that upon entering office he would call a national emergency and begin mass deportations. The call has received condemnation from Democrats, and some Republicans have similarly expressed doubts. In the latest comments on the issue, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D) has weighed in, vowing to defy the president's deportation plans.
Arizona is estimated to host about a quarter of a million undocumented immigrants. Since announcing that he plans to institute mass deportations, questions surrounding who would be deported have made headlines. Despite President Trump's new "Border Czar" Tom Homan clarifying that only "criminals" and "gang members" would be deported, lawmakers have pushed back against President Trump's plan.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego has already shared that she will not allow police to be used to carry out President Trump's deportation plans, and now Governor Hobbs is making it clear that she will do everything she possibly can to push back against the president's efforts.
During an interview with ABC News, when asked if she would allow the state police and the national guard to carry out mass deportations, she made it clear that she wouldn't. "We will not be participating in misguided efforts that harm our communities," she responded. "I've been incredibly clear about that."
NEW—Arizona's Governor Katie Hobbs declares she will not allow the Trump administration to deport illegal immigrants in Arizona.
Reminder: Arizona just delivered President Trump a resounding victory because Democrats like Katie Hobbs refuse to secure the border.
In the words… pic.twitter.com/3jbfFguO3L
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 18, 2024
When asked if she disagreed with the president's plans to oversee such an effort, she explained that the resources are better used in other efforts. "I think that those efforts are going to divert needed resources that we need here on these drug interdiction, and smuggling, and trafficking efforts to keep harm out of our communities. We need those resources here," she explained.
Finally, the Arizona governor explained that President Trump's effort to carry out mass deportations could actually make the state much more vulnerable.
"The diversion of law enforcement from the work that they do every day to keep our communities safe," she said, adding that people would be "hiding in fear." "We saw that under previous state policies here, and it harms communities. It tears families apart, and that's not gonna happen on my watch," she affirmed.
